Alepel x Lainy
At the end of Spring, 2021, quite the blue... Alepel hit me up to discuss a possible partnership. I was so intrigued by their business model, how they support artists, and celebrate artistry in a way that many brands today do not have the capacity to do. Of course, I immediately started brainstorming a way to work together. Shoes, no. Home. Leather.
Initially we deciding that early fall would be great, but then maybe holiday is better. It’s been such a tough year on everyone, and being away from loved ones takes a toll on many of our mental health. I wanted to create something that I know brings people together - a way to be a part of that home cooked experience with loved ones.
I initially took cues from holiday windows in NYC. What I love most about the holidays is that feeling of brisk cold and looking into a warm store down the avenue with lights and colors. The cubes came from a more abstract idea of the holiday. Brown, gold, beige, green... naturally. Which also plays well into current interior trends. And the nutcrackers, well, what is the holiday season without one? I have a nutcracker from my childhood from going to see the nutcracker every winter. I remember there were many colors of them, and so I drew it out and made it more inviting than just a single color.
At first it was just placemats and a napkin ring, then we decided to do candles. And I thought, I MUST do the candles with a small batch brand I love, Sugar Grace & Co. The scent is warm and sugary, but nothing overbearing where you can put it on your holiday table. We then designed the vases, and that was it.
In all the process was fairly seamless. It did feed a nice creative itch I’ve had since the beginning of Covid, and so for that in thankful.
Anyways... I’m wishing you all a very happy holiday. I hope you are surrounded by the people you love.
... & some good food too.
